Zipongo is teaming up with Independent Health, a non-profit health plan based in Buffalo, N.Y., to offer its members a digital food marketplace that will help them select, purchase and prepare meals from home or on-the-go.
Utilizing Zipongo’s nutrition AI and mobile technology, Independent Health members will be able to access recipes and meal plans highly personalized to their tastes, dietary preferences, restrictions and medical needs, including recommendations for quick and healthy meals based on what they have available in their kitchen which they can order online and find discounts for. They will have access to a comprehensive set of recipe and nutrition information, and other tools including drag-and-drop meal planners, smart grocery lists, and discounts and grocery ordering options on high-quality foods at local and regional grocery chains including Tops, Wegmans, Dash’s, Aldi, Trader Joe’s and Save-A-Lot. Members in any zip code can also order fresh Zipongo meal kits for easy cooking of healthy and tasty meals, made more convenient.
“This is the newest addition to our ever-expanding roster of innovative technology resources and benefits that help our members to conveniently manage – and make the most-educated decisions – about their personal health and wellness,” said Michael W. Cropp, M.D., president and CEO, Independent Health. “By partnering with Zipongo, we continue to make it even more convenient and simpler for our members to incorporate healthy food choices into their lives.”
Jason Langheier, M.D., MPH, CEO and founder of Zipongo (and a Western New York native), said “With online grocery and restaurant delivery just launching in Western New York, it’s an important moment to support Buffalonians as they strive to choose good food to raise strong, healthy families. Independent Health has long gone above and beyond to look out for its members, and is once again doing so, by helping families more easily get high-quality, great tasting and affordable food more conveniently, and free of the pull of food maker advertising.”
Zipongo enables personalization for each participant, beginning with a comprehensive NutriQuiz that covers eating habits, allergies, preferences, and helps monitor progress on their NutriScore. Zipongo also connects with third-party providers like 23andMe to provide insight into the unique, optimal diet for each user.
Dr. Cropp added that chronic disease is a leading contributor to the unsustainable cost of health care, which negatively impacts individuals, families, businesses and the economy here in Western New York and throughout the U.S. “What and how much we eat is a key factor for many chronic diseases, and eating a healthier diet helps prevent and treat the most common of these debilitating conditions. While food is not the sole answer to creating a culture of health, a healthy diet is the foundation for better personal health and a healthier community,” said Dr. Cropp.
Learn More About This Partnership
- Independent Health Partnering With Zipongo® | Independent Health Press Release on July 23, 2018
- Independent Health Launches ‘Smart’ Nutrition App | Buffalo Business First on July 23, 2018
- Want to Eat Healthier? Hamburg Native’s Tool Helps | The Buffalo News on July 20, 2018
Learn About Our New Partner
Independent Health, a not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Buffalo, New York, serves nearly 380,000 members and provides innovative health care products and benefits designed to engage consumers in their health and well-being. Established in 1980, our comprehensive portfolio of progressive products include HMO, POS, PPO and EPO products, Medicare and Medicaid plans, traditional indemnity insurance, individual and small group Exchange products, consumer-directed plans and health savings accounts, plus coverage for self-funded employers. Our subsidiaries and affiliate companies include pharmacy benefit management and the Independent Health Foundation. To learn more, go to www.independenthealth.com.
